Seasickness and Scuba Diving

Seasickness is something that most of us have heard of but may not fully understand. All we know is that we would like to avoid it if at all possible. It is no fun to have but is a natural response to the situation that we put ourselves through. This can be extremely frustrating, however, when doing dive travel on a boat or heading into the water for a nice scuba diving trip.

The following explains more about just what this sickness is and where it comes from. Further, some remedies are also discussed regarding this frustrating condition.

What Is Seasickness?

Ivan Cholakov

Seasickness is also known as motion sickness. It occurs in a person because of an overwhelming or over-processing that is occurring. The mind, brain, and body are getting mixed signals from their surroundings.

The eyes, the ears, and the body itself are all seeing and receiving messages that seem contradictory. Your eyes may be seeing stationary objects, whether in the water or on the shore and your body is feeling motion. Further, your ears, as the balancing center, must create the necessary response in order to stay upright.

Response

The body, as a result of this confusion, usually has steps that it cycles through as you suffer. Though nausea is one of these symptoms, the first symptom is really anxiousness. There is confusion and panic when your body is responding and figuring out what to do.

Then, the infamous, and oh so much fun, nausea sets in. As a result, you get sick to your stomach or may even vomit. This can be extremely trying and difficult but there are potential solutions that can be tried as a way to help you.

Remedies

Trekkyandy

A proven method for the treatment of sea sickness does not yet exist. There are options, however, that may help in curing the symptoms. Antihistamines have been said to help with sea sickness.

These can often be purchased over the counter and give you an option to curing the problems associated with sea sickness.

For divers, however, they should be used with caution and with care. You need to be alert while diving and these can cause drowsiness so use with caution. There are other prescription medications available through your doctor.

The problems are, however, that though they may cure the symptoms of sea sickness, they have side effects which can be dangerous to divers. Dry mouth can occur in some while blurred vision has occurred in others. For this reason, it becomes important that individuals choosing these medications know all there is to know about taking them.

Andresmh

The same treatment in one individual may be different than in another, so it is a good idea to try the medication before you go on the dive trip.

Choose the method that is right for you and leave the others behind. Your scuba diving trips may just be enhanced because of it.

Alternative Ways

Many have alternative medication they use. Bracelets, ginger or garlic. Some even mix it all up just to be surer not to get sick.

What do you do not to get seasick? Do you have any alternative ways of staying up-right when sailing for a dive trip? Leave a comment below!

3 Comments

Michael Norr on August at

I’ve never really had problems with sea sickness and always thought that I was not subjective to this. When I’m on a larger boat of any kind the waves can rock all they want without getting to me. I can eat, sleep and anything.

However, not long ago in Khao Lak I was on a dive that started with a 1½ hour ride in a speed boat. Fast going, lots of waves and a constant smell of gasoline or engine fuels. That totally got to me. Badly. Killed most of my first dive when we finally got to the dive site, but I of cause had to try and get down. I’ve dived with hangovers before with no or little problems, but this was worse.

Second dive we had to move again. Only a 15 minutes ride and slower speed, but when you are already under the weather that’s sort of all you need to get really sick. Don’t know why he didn’t gave it to me sooner, but at that time a dive master gave me a ginger root to chew in. It didn’t cure me but it did work magic somehow. Removed a lot of the sickness and made me able to do the last dive.

So ginger root can be recommended. Tastes really strong, but the damn shit works :)

I used to work in Khao Lak so I know all about the boat rides to the Similans. I think the biggest problem in Thailand is that they mix the petrol with some additive, witch makes it so so smelly. And of cause they do go really fast!

Great to hear some good experiences on solving the sickness! Hope you still got to enjoy the diving.

Thanks for sharing!

fred on September at

Lemon drops candy. I suppose any hard candy would do, but this was recommended by my Navy ROTC commander years ago and for me it works. I suppose just keeping the saliva running helps settle the stomach. The worst thing is to go below deck. Better to watch the horizon and relax.